Former Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale has admitted sexually assaulting a woman in council chambers, official corruption and unlawful drug possession.
The 69-year-old persistently pursued a woman in his mayoral chambers on two occasions at the Ipswich City Council in December 2016.
"The offending of the defendant undermined in all respects the integrity of Ipswich City Council and position of mayor for personal benefit," prosecutor Sarah Farnden said on Thursday.
"(The victim) described the impact of the power difference between him as lord mayor .... as making her really scared."
Pisasale appeared in Ipswich District Court, where he previously admitted 28 counts of fraud, which relate to his time in office.
He also previously pleaded guilty to one count each of perjury and secret commission by an agent but a suppression order prevented media reporting it.
This has now been lifted.
Pisasale read an apology to the court, saying he started out trying to help the "beautiful people of Ipswich" but personal "obsession and a lack of judgment" took over during a "dark period of his life".
"My mind and ego took over and I was out of control," he told the packed courtroom.
"I am not a bad person but I have made some very bad decisions."
The official corruption charge relates to Pisasale agreeing to champion a Yamanto real estate project while mayor by influencing council workers and contractors.
Ms Farnden said he was promised up to $35 million if sales went ahead as planned but he never received the money.
Pisasale was also convicted of unlawful possessing Sildenafil, which is often sold under the brand name Viagra.
At the time of his committal in September 2019, the perjury allegation stemmed from a Crime and Corruption Commission investigation hearing in May 2017.
Pisasale was accused of giving false testimony at the CCC hearing with regard to carrying packages from interstate for barrister Sam Di Carlo.
A raft of fraud charges relate to Ipswich City Council property and money.
Pisasale had his assistant deposit $26,000 in donations into a personal back account.
He spent $4322 of council money to travel to concerts in Sydney and Melbourne.
He also applied to his own use charity auction items, including sporting memorabilia, a barbecue, kitchen appliances, artwork, photographs, decorative items and whiskey.
But defence lawyer David Jones said Pisasale hadn't "embarked on a campaign of personal enrichment".
"These items weren't found decorating the walls at his home," he said.
"On one occasion, he donated a China tea set and later bid for it to come back," he said.
Other items were used as gifts during official council business.
But Ms Farnden said Pisasale's offending was a "pivotal" to the systemically corrupt culture at the council.
"This type of offending damages the fabric of the community," she said.
Pisasale was a popular mayor credited with the "renaissance" of Ipswich during his tenure from 2004 to 2017.
He resigned in June 2017 after 13 years in the position following a CCC raid at his office and home.
He was previously sentenced to two years' prison, suspended after 12 months, after being convicted of extortion in 2019.
The hearing continues with sentencing submissions for all 35 charges.
He is expected to be sentenced next Wednesday.
